Portable gas dispenser



June 6, 1950 c. J. OLOWINSKI 2,

PORTABLE GAS DISPENSER Filed Feb. 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l E p $45.- 2. f

/0 INVENTOR. 68 C /e/Wefif J 0/0W//76/f/ ATTORNEYJ June 6, 1950 c. J. OLOWINSK] 2,

PORTABLE GAS DISPENSER Filed Feb. 25, 1949 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYJ Patented June 6 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE GAS DISPENSER Clement J. Olowinski, Erie, Pa.

Application February 25, 1949, Serial No. 78,423

8 Claims.

This invention relates to portable gas dispensers, and more particularly to a portable dispenser usable as an inhalator.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a portable dispenser of a size and weight to be easily carried by the user and which will contain a supply of compressed gas, such as oxygen, so that the gas may be dispensed under manual control, as desired, by such persons as athletes, aviators and sportsmen to allay respiratory exertion, those persons suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments, and those temporarily imbued with certain poisons, fumes, smoke or an excess of alcohol, which dispenser includes means for adding desired medicaments to the gas dispensed, can be easily recharged with compressed gas when the gas supply has been exhausted, and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, of neat and attractive appearance, and extremely easy to use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of a portable gas dispenser illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, medial cross-section of the dispenser illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, medial cross-section similar to Figure 2, but taken in a plane substantially perpendicularly disposed to the section plane of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-section on an enlarged scale of a flask-mounted, gas-control valve;

Figure 6 is a cross-section of the line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing a spring return for automatically closing the manually-operated valve of the dispenser;

Figure 7 is a cross-section of a fragmentary upper portion of the dispenser showing a bafile and medicament container mounted in operative position;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan View of the container and baille illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the manuallyoperable valve mechanism with the flask and flask-mounted valve detached therefrom.

With continued reference to the drawings, the improved dispenser comprises a cylindrical container or receptacle [0 of a size to render the gas dispenser easily portable while at the same time containing a reasonably large supply of 2 compressed gas. An internal bead H is formed in the container H) at one end of the latter, and an end wall I2 is secured in the opposite end of the cylindrical container. This end wall has an annular flange 13 which fits closely into the container ill at the end of the container opposite the internal bead ll and is secured therein by ce ment or other suitable means. The container Ill may be formed of a rigid and durable substance, such as metal, while the end wall structure I2 is preferably formed of an easily moldable material, such as a suitable synthetic resin plastic.

As is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the end wall I2 is made concave within the flange l3, and is provided at diametrically-opposite sides with rounded projections 14 and with curved marginal edges extending between such rounded extensions to constitute a mouthpiece for the convenient inhalation of the gas contained in the dispenser.

An elongated, generally cylindrical valve body l5 extends inwardly of the container lilfrom the center of the mouthpiece end wall i2 and is provided with a centrally-disposed, longitudinally-extending bore 16 having respective, screwthreaded oounterbores I1 and IS in its opposite ends. The counterbore ll opens to the interior of the mouthpiece end wall [2, and the counterbore l8 opens to the inner end of the valve body 15. The valve body It may have, at its opposite ends, annular enlargements or beads I9 and 26] to reinforce the walls of the respective counterbores I? and I8.

Intermediate its length the valve body is is provided with a transverse, tapered aperture 2!,

and a rotatable valve plug 22 having a transverse passage 23 therethrough is rotatably mounted in the aperture 2|. The smaller end of the valve plug 22 is provided with a screw-threaded well into which is threaded a headed screw 24, and a compression spring 25 interposed between the head of the screw 24 and a bearing washer 26 disposed against the outer surface of the valve body i5 surrounding the smaller end of the aperture 2|, maintains the valve plug 22 firmly seated in the aperture 2! in gas-tight association with the valve body l5. The larger end of the valve plug is provided with an outwardly-extending boss 27 having a screw-threaded well therein into which is threaded the reduced, externally screw-threaded end portion of a valve shaft 28 which extends from the larger end of the valve plug through an aperture 29 in the wall of the container i8, and a valve-turning knob 30 is secured on the outer end of shaft 28 at the outside of the container l0.

With this arrangement, the valve plug 22 may be rotated by the knob 30 to align the passage 23 in the valve plug with the adjacent ends of the bore IS in the valve body l5, and thereby open this manually-controlled valve, when desired.

In order to prevent the waste of gas from the dispenser, the valve is closed by suitable spring means, such as that particularly illustrated in Figure 6.

The side of the valve body 15 in alignment with the large end of the transverse opening 2! is flattened at the inner end of the valve body, and a bracket 3! is secured to this flattened portion of the valve body 15 by suitable means, such as the screws 32. The bracket 3! is a flat, L-shaped body having an arm 33 which projects laterally outward from the valve body !5 and is provided with an aperture near its outer end. This bracket 3! also includes a portion 34 which extends inwardly of the valve body 15 to a location adjacent the boss 27 on the large end of the valve plug and is there provided with a terminal straight edge which is disposed substantially transversely of the valve body.

A lever 35- is provided, at one end, with an enlarged, apertured lug 36 which receives the noncircular boss 2?, and the lever is also provided with an outwardly-projecting arm 31 provided with an aperture near its outer end. A tension spring 38 is connected at one end to the bracket arm 33 and at its opposite end to the lever arm 3'! by having hooked end portions inserted through the respective apertures in the bracket arm and the lever arm, and resiliently turns the lever to a poosition in which the terminal straight edge of the portion 34 of the bracket is contacted by the adjacent straight edge of the lever arm. This provides a stop for the lever at which the valve plug is so positioned that its transverse passage is out of alignment with the adjacent portions of the bore !5 and the valve is closed. The valve is opened by rotating knob 35 in a direction to stretch the spring 38.

A hollow metal flask 4D is received in the cylindrical container it! adjacent the inner end of the elongated valve body l5. This flask is formed of a strong, durable metal, such as alloy steel, and is of generally cylindrical shape with an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the container [0, so that the flask can be easily and conveniently positioned in the container. This flask has a substantially fiat bottom wall 4! and a domed top wall 42 provided with a central, inwardly-directed boss 43 which is apertured and internally screw threaded.

A valve body, generally indicated at 44, has a central wrench-receiving portion 45 of hexagonal or other non-circular shape, and has at each side of said wrench-receiving portion respective externally screw-threaded bosses 46 and 4i, the boss 51, in the arrangement illustrated, being threaded into the boss 43 of the flask. A central bore 48 extends longitudinally through the valve body 45 and through a cylindrical extension 49 which projects from the outer end of the boss 41, and this boss is reduced at the outer end of the cylindrical extension to provide an internal, annular shoulder 55. Valve mechanism such as is conventionally used in the tube valve stems of pneumatic tires is operatively disposed inthe bore 48 of the valve body 4d. As illustrated, this valve mechanism includes a cup-shaped spring abutment 5|v bearing at its open end on the infrom the abutment 5i and secured in the bore by a hollow nut 53 which is threaded into the corresponding end of the bore 48 and surrounds a packing gland 54 which bears upon the adjacent end of the tubular valve seat 52, suitable packing 55 being interposed between the nut and the packing gland 54. A slender valve stem 55 extends through the abutment 5|, the tubular valve seat 52, the packing gland 54 and the nut 53, and a cylindrical valve head 51 is secured on this stem between the abutment 5| and the ad jacent end of the valve seat 52. A compression spring 58 surrounds the stem between the abutment 5! and the valve head 51 and resiliently urges the valve head into sealing contact with the end of the valve seat, the valve head being provided with a suitable facing of resilient material, such as rubber, to seal the valve against the passage of gas therethrough from the interior of the flask d5. When the stem 55 is depressed, as illustrated in Figure 5, the valve head 57 is moved away from the valve seat 52 and the valve is opened.

In order to assemble the flask 40 with the container l0 and container end wall l2, the boss 46 of the valve body 44 is entered into the counterbore IS in the inner end of the valve body l5, and the flask is then rotated to thread this boss 46 into the counterbore IS, a non-circular, wrench-receiving head or extension 59 being provided on the bottom wall of the flask to facilitate such rotation of the flask.

Before the boss 46 is entered into the counterbore I8, 3, valve-stem-depressing spider, generally indicated at 60, is inserted into the counterbore. This spider comprises an apertured disc BI and a stem 62 which projects from the center of the disc and is directed toward the open end of the counter-bore. As the boss 46 is threaded into the counterbore 18, the outer end of stem Bl contacts the adjacent end of valve stem 55, depressing the valve stem to move the valve head 51 away from the valve seat 52 against the force of spring 58 to thereby open the valve and connect the interior of the flask 40 with the bore IS in the valve body l5, so that dispensing of the compressed gas from the flask 40 can be controlled entirely by manual movement of the rotatable valve plug 22' in the manner described. above;

When the supply of gas in the flask 40 has been substantially exhausted, the flask can be removed from the container by threading the boss 45 out.

of the counterbore i8, whereupon the valve'in" the valve body 44 will close. The flask may then be recharged with gas under pressure, and the abovementioned valve mechanism will retain the gas under pressure in the flask until: the flask is? center of its concave side a hollow, internally screw-threaded boss 66 which is threaded onto the end of the stem 63 opposite the spider 64, so that the baiile is disposed inthe bottom of the mouthpiece formation of the wall l2, and overlies the openings through the spider 64 to de-- flect gas issuing through the spider outwardly along the concave outer surface of the mouth piece formation; the edges ofthe baffle being spaced from the concave outer surface of the mouthpiece formation to permit the free flow of gas between the bafile'and the adjacent surfac'eof the mouthpiece formation. Diametrically-opposed fins 61 are provided on the convexsideof the baffle to facilitate threading the baflle onto and off of the post 63.

A flat disc-shaped receptacle B8 is disposed between the bafile 65 and the spider 64, and is pro-, vided with a central aperture through which the post 63 extends. This disc-shaped receptacle is provided to contain a desired medicament to be added to the gas issuing into the mouthpiece formation of the device, and may be provided with porous walls to contain medicating material in crystal form or a wick saturated with such material in liquid form, or may have a, honeycomb construction providing cells which are filled with a medicating material in plastic condition. This receptacle 68 may be removed and replaced, whenever desired, by threading the baffle off of the post 63. V

A circular bottom end wall 18 closes the end of the cylindrical container It provided with the internal bead H, and this wall is provided with a central opening H which receives the wrenchreceiving extension 59 on the bottom of the flask 40. The disc-shaped bottom wall "it is. provided with a peripheral groove 12 which receives the bead II, and, if the material of the cylindrical container has suflicient flexibility, and the groove 12 is made sufficiently shallow, the bottom wall may be snapped into and out of assembly with the container lil. Otherwise, the bead and the groove may be formed in spaced-apart, discontinuous sections, as indicated in Figure 4, so that the end wall can be set in place and then ro tated through a predetermined angular interval to releasably lock it in operative assembly with the container.

A cup-shaped cover or lid 13 is provided to enclose the mouthpiece end wall I2 when the device is not in use. This cover has a flat end wall 14 and an annular, marginal flange 15 of a diameter to closely fit the outer surface of the flange l3 of the end Wall, which flange projects beyond the adjacent end of'the container H], as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3, with the edge of the cap flange T5 at the open end of the cap bearing upon the end of the cylindrical wall of the container ID. This cap may be formed of metal, or other suitable material, such as synthetic resin plastic, and is preferably provided with suitable knurling 16 on its outer surface, so that it can be easily removed and replaced, when desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screwthreaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the walljor said cylindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screwthreaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body When said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body.

2. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead on one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screwthreaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the wall of said cylindrical container, 2. valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screwthreaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body, said flask having an external, wrench-receiving formation on the end thereof opposite said boss.

3. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screwthreaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the wall of said cylindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, at second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screwthreaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body, and a spring return connected to the rotatable valve plug in said first-mentioned valve body to resiliently return said valve plug to closed position after the same has been moved to open position by manual rotation of said valve-rotating knob.

4. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screw-threaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the wall of said cylindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longi tudinally therethrough and an externally screwthreaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body, and a deflector mounted in said counterbore at the mouthpiece end-wall end of said first-mentioned valve body and spaced from the adjacent surface of the mouthpiece formation in such end wall.

5. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screw-threaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the Wall of said cylindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screw-threaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body, a deflector disposed in said mouthpiece end wall adjacent the outer surface of the mouthpiece formation in such wall and a medicament container disposed between said deflector and the adjacent surface of the mouthpiece formation in said end wall.

6. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screw-threaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the wall of said cylindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screw-threaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said firstmentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said firstmentioned valve body, and a removable end wall in said one end of said container releasably secured in said container by said internal bead.

'7. A portable gas dispenser comprising a cylindrical container having an internal bead at one end, an end wall secured in the opposite end of said cylindrical container and constituting a gas inhalator mouthpiece, an elongated valve body extending inwardly of said cylindrical container from the center of said end wall and having a longitudinally-extending bore therethrough provided in each end with a respective screw-threaded counterbore, a rotatable valve plug in said valve body intermediate the length of the latter, a valve-operating shaft extending from one end of said valve plug through the wall of said cyIindrical container, a valve-rotating knob secured on said shaft outside said container, a hollow flask for gas under pressure received in said cylindrical container and having on one end wall an internally screw-threaded, apertured boss, a second elongated valve body threaded into said boss and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and an externally screw-threaded portion threadable into the adjacent counterbore in said first-mentioned valve body, valve mechanism in the bore of said second valve body including a valve stem depressible to open said valve, and a stem-depressing spider secured in the counterbore of said first-mentioned valve body into which said second valve body is threaded to open the valve in said second valve body when said second valve body is threaded into said first-mentioned valve body and thereby connect the interior of said flask with the bore in said first-mentioned valve body, and a removable cap for said inhalator fitting over said mouthpiece end wall and bearing against the adjacent end of said cylindrical container.

8. A portable gas dispenser comprising an elongated, hollow container, an end wall secured in one end of said container, said end wall having No references cited. 

